Perform task with minimum risk to people, equipment, materials, environment, and processes. The competent authorities should, on the basis of an assessment of the safety and health hazards involved and in consultation with the most representative organization of employers and workers, adopt and maintain in force national laws or regulations to ensure the safety and health of workers employed in construction projects and to protect persons at, or in the vicinity of, a construction site from all risks which may arise from such site. The competent authority should provide appropriate inspection services to enforce or administer the application of the provisions of the national laws and regulations and provide these services with the resources necessary for the accomplishment of their task, or satisfy itself that appropriate inspection is carried out.

1. Safety Practice
Muhammad Ghulam Mustafa Joyia
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School of art and design and architecture
Perform task with minimum risk to people, equipment, materials, environment, and processes.

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1HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION
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The competent authorities should, on the basis of an assessment of the safety and health hazards
involved and in consultation with the most representative organization of employers and
workers, adopt and maintain in force national laws or regulations to ensure the safety and health
of workers employed in construction projects and to protect persons at, or in the vicinity of, a
construction site from all risks which may arise from such site.
The competent authority should provide appropriate inspection services to enforce or administer
the application of the provisions of the national laws and regulations and provide these services
with the resources necessary for the accomplishment of their task, or satisfy itself that
appropriate inspection is carried out.
General duties of employers
Employers should provide adequate means and organization and should establish a suitable
programed on the safety and health of workers consistent with national laws and regulations
and should comply with the prescribed safety and health measures at the workplace.
Employers should so provide and maintain workplaces, plant, equipment, tools and machinery
and so organize construction work that as far as is reasonably practicable there is no risk of
accident or injury to health of workers. In particular, construction work should be so planned,
prepared and undertaken that:
 Dangers liable to arise at the workplace are prevented as soon as possible
 Excessively or unnecessarily strenuous work positions and movements are avoided
 Organization of work takes into account the safety and health of workers
 Materials and products are used which are suitable from a safety and health point of
view
 Working methods are employed which protect workers against the harmful effects of
chemical, physical and biological agents.
General rights and duties of workers
Workers should have the right to obtain proper information from the employer regarding
safety and health risks and safety and health measures related to the work processes. This
information should be presented in forms and languages which the workers easily understand.
Workers should have the right to remove themselves from danger when they have good reason
to believe that there is an imminent and serious danger to their safety or health. They should
have the duty so to inform their supervisor immediately.
In accordance with national legislation, workers should:

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2General duties of clients
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 Co-operate as closely as possible with their employer in the application of the
prescribed safety and health measures;
 Take reasonable care for their own safety and health and that of other persons who may
be affected by their acts or omissions at work
 Use and take care of personal protective equipment, protective clothing and facilities
placed at their disposal and not misuse anything provided for their own protection or
the protection of others;
 Report forthwith to their immediate supervisor, and to the workers' safety
representative where one exists, any situation which they believe could present a risk
and which they cannot properly deal with themselves
 Comply with the prescribed safety and health measures
 Participate in regular safety and health meetings.
General duties of clients
Clients should
 Co-ordinate or nominate a competent person to co-ordinate all activities relating to
safety and health on their construction projects;
 Inform all contractors on the project of special risks to health and safety of which the
clients are or should be aware;
 Require those submitting tenders to make provision for the cost of safety and health
measures during the construction process.
Safety of workplaces
General provisions
All appropriate precautions should be taken:
 To ensure that all workplaces are safe and without risk of injury to the safety and health
of workers
 To protect persons, present at or in the vicinity of a construction site from all risks which
may arise from such site.
All openings and other areas likely to pose danger to workers should be clearly indicated.
Means of access and egress
Adequate and safe means of access to and egress from all workplaces should be provided,
indicated where appropriate and maintained in a safe condition.
Housekeeping
A suitable housekeeping programed should be established and continuously implemented on
each construction site which should include provisions for

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3Precautions against the fall of materials persons, collapse of structures
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 The proper storage of materials and equipment
 The removal of scrap, waste and debris at appropriate intervals
Loose materials which are not required for use should not be placed or allowed to accumulate
on the site so as to obstruct means of access to and egress from workplaces and passageways
Workplaces and passageways that are slippery owing to ice, snow, oil or other causes should be
cleaned up or strewn with sand, sawdust, ash or the like.
Precautions against the fall of materials persons, collapse of structures
Adequate precautions should be taken such as the provision of fencing, look-out men or
barriers to protect any person who might be injured by the fall of materials, or tools or
equipment being raised or lowered.
Where necessary to prevent danger, guys, stays or supports should be used or other effective
precautions should be taken to prevent the collapse of structures or parts of structures that are
being erected, maintained, repaired, dismantled or demolished.
All openings through which workers are liable to fall should be kept effectively covered or
fenced and indicated in the most appropriate manner.
As far as practicable, guard-rails and toe-boards in accordance with national laws and
regulations should be provided to protect workers from falling from elevated work places.
Wherever the guard-rails and toe-boards cannot be provided:
 Adequate safety nets or safety sheets should be erected and maintained
 Adequate safety harnesses should be provided and used.
Prevention of unauthorized entry
Construction sites in built-up areas and alongside vehicular and pedestrian traffic routes should
be fenced to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons.
Visitors should not be allowed access to construction sites unless accompanied by or authorized
by a competent person and provided with the appropriate protective equipment.
Fire prevention and fire fighting
All appropriate measures should be taken by the employer to:
 Avoid the risk of fire
 Control quickly and efficiently any outbreak of fire
 Bring about a quick and safe evacuation of persons
Sufficient and suitable storage should be provided for flammable liquids, solids and gases.

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4Fire prevention and fire fighting
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Secure storage areas should be provided for flammable liquids, solids and gases such as
liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, paints and other such materials in order to deter trespassers.
Smoking should be prohibited and "No Smoking" notices be prominently displayed in all places
containing readily combustible or flammable materials.
In confined spaces and other places in which flammable gases, vapors or dusts can cause
danger:
 Only suitably protected electrical installations and equipment, including portable lamps,
should be used;
 There should be no naked flames or similar means of ignition;
 There should be notices prohibiting smoking
 Oily rags, waste and clothes or other substances liable to spontaneous ignition should
be removed without delay to a safe place
 Adequate ventilation should be provided
Combustible materials such as packing materials, sawdust, greasy/oily waste and scrap wood or
plastics should not be allowed to accumulate in workplaces but should be kept in closed metal
containers in a safe place.
Regular inspections should be made of places where there are fire risks. These include the
vicinity of heating appliances, electrical installations and conductors, stores of flammable and
combustible materials, hot welding and cutting operations.
Welding, flame cutting and other hot work should only be done on the orders of a competent
supervisor after appropriate precautions, as required, are taken to reduce the risk of fire.
Places where workers are employed should, if necessary to prevent the danger of fire, be
provided as far as practicable with:
 Suitable and sufficient fire-extinguishing equipment, which should be easily visible and
accessible;
 An adequate water supply at ample pressure.
Fire-extinguishing equipment should be properly maintained and inspected at suitable intervals
by a competent person. Access to fire-extinguishing equipment such as hydrants, portable
extinguishers and connections for hoses should be kept clear at all times.
All supervisors and a sufficient number of workers should be trained in the use of fire-
extinguishing equipment, so that adequate trained personnel are readily available during all
working periods.
Where necessary to guard against danger, workers should be suitably trained in the action to
be taken in the event of fire, including the use of means of escape.

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5Lighting
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Where appropriate, suitable visual signs should be provided to indicate clearly the direction of
escape in case of fire.
Means of escape should be kept clear at all times. Escape routes should be frequently inspected
particularly in high structures and where access is restricted, as in tunnel workings.
Sufficient and suitable means to give warning in case of fire should be provided where this is
necessary to prevent danger. Such warning should be clearly audible in all parts of the site
where persons are liable to work. There should be an effective evacuation plan so that all
persons are evacuated speedily without panic and accounted for and all plant and processes
shut down.
Notices should be posted at conspicuous places indicating:
 The nearest fire alarm;
 The telephone number and address of the nearest emergency services.
Lighting
Where natural lighting is not adequate to ensure safe working conditions, adequate and
suitable lighting, including portable lighting where appropriate, should be provided at every
workplace and any other place on the construction site where a worker may have to pass.
Artificial lighting should, as far as practicable, not produce glare or disturbing shadows.
Where necessary to prevent danger, lamps should be protected by suitable guards against
accidental breakage.
The cables of portable electrical lighting equipment should be of adequate size and
characteristics for the power requirements and of adequate mechanical strength to withstand
severe conditions in construction operations.
Personal protective equipment and protective clothing
General provisions
Where adequate protection against the risk of accident or injury to health, including exposure
to adverse conditions, cannot be ensured by other means, suitable personal protective
equipment and protective clothing, having regard to the type of work and risks, should be
provided and maintained by the employer, without cost to the workers, as may be prescribed
by national laws or regulations.
Personal protective equipment and protective clothing should comply with standards set by the
competent authority, taking into account as far as possible ergonomic principles.
Employers should provide the workers with the appropriate means to enable them to use the
individual protective equipment and should require and ensure its proper use.

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6Personal protective equipment and protective clothing
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A competent person having a full understanding of the nature of the hazard and the type, range
and performance of the protection required should: (a) select suitable items of personal
protective equipment and protective clothing; (b) arrange that they are properly stored,
maintained, cleaned and, if necessary for health reasons, disinfected or sterilised at suitable
intervals.
Workers should be required to make proper use of and to take good care of the personal
protective equipment and protective clothing provided for their use.
Workers should be instructed in the use of personal protective equipment and protective
clothing.
Workers working alone on construction sites in confined spaces, enclosed premises or in
remote or inaccessible places should be provided with an appropriate alarm and the means of
rapidly summoning assistance in an emergency.
Types
Where necessary, workers should be provided with and wear the following personal protective
equipment and protective clothing:
 Safety helmets or hard hats to protect the head from injury due to falling or flying
objects, or due to striking against objects or structures;
 Clear or colored goggles, a screen, a face shield or other suitable device when likely to
be exposed to eye or face injury from airborne dust or flying particles, dangerous
substances, harmful heat, light or other radiation, and in particular during welding,
flame cutting, rock drilling, concrete mixing or other hazardous work;
 Protective gloves or gauntlets, appropriate barrier creams and suitable protective
clothing to protect hands or the whole body as required when exposed to heat radiation
or while handling hot, hazardous or other substances which might cause injury to the
skin
 Footwear of an appropriate type when employed at places where there is the likelihood
of exposure to adverse conditions or of injury from falling or crushing objects, hot or
hazardous substances, sharp-edged tools or nails and slippery or ice-covered surfaces
 Respiratory protective equipment, suitable for the particular environment, when
workers cannot be protected against airborne dust, fumes, vapors or gases by
ventilation or other means
 A suitable airline or self-contained breathing apparatus when employed in places likely
to have an oxygen deficiency
 Respirators, overalls, head coverings, gloves, tight-fitting boiler suits, impermeable
footwear and aprons appropriate to the risks of radioactive contamination in areas
where unsealed radioactive sources are prepared or used
 Waterproof clothing and head coverings when working in adverse weather conditions

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7Health hazards, first aid and occupational health services
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 Safety harnesses with independently secured lifelines where protection against falls
cannot be provided by other appropriate means
 Life vests and life preservers where there is a danger of falling into water
 Distinguishing clothing or reflective devices or otherwise conspicuously visible material
when there is regular exposure to danger from moving vehicles.
Health hazards, first aid and occupational health services
For works which by their very nature expose workers to hazards arising from the use or presence of
chemical, physical or biological agents and climatic conditions, appropriate preventive measures should
be taken to avoid any danger to the safety and health of workers.
The preventive measures referred to in paragraph should place emphasis on the need to eliminate or
reduce the hazard at the source and in particular should require:
 The replacement of hazardous substances, equipment or processes with substances, equipment
or processes less harmful or hazardous to workers' safety and health
 The reduction of noise and vibration caused by equipment, machinery, installations and tools
 Control of the release of harmful agents or chemicals into the working environment
 training in manual lifting
 Proper working postures when workers are required to work in fixed working positions or when
they are carrying out repetitive work
 Appropriate protection against climatic conditions likely to jeopardize health
Where the foregoing measures are inappropriate
 instituting work practices which will eliminate or minimise danger to safety and health;
 supplying and requiring the use of personal protective equipment and clothing.
The employer should make arrangements for the identification and assessment by competent persons
of health hazards presented by the use of different operations, plant, machinery, equipment, substances
and radiations at the construction site and take appropriate preventive or control measures against the
identified health risks in conformity with the national laws and regulations.
First aid
The employer should be responsible for ensuring that first aid, including the provision of trained
personnel, is available. Arrangements should be made for ensuring the removal for medical attention of
workers who have suffered an accident or sudden illness.
The manner in which first-aid facilities and personnel are to be provided should be prescribed by
national laws or regulations, and drawn up after consulting the competent health authority and the
most representative organisations of employers and workers concerned.
Where the work involves risk of drowning, asphyxiation or electric shock, first-aid personnel should be
proficient in the use of resuscitation and other life-saving techniques and in rescue procedures.

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8Health hazards, first aid and occupational health services
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Suitable rescue and resuscitation equipment, as required, including stretchers should be kept readily
available at the construction site.
First-aid kits or boxes, as appropriate, should be provided at the workplaces, including isolated locations
such as maintenance gangs, and on motor vehicles, locomotives, boats and floating equipment, and be
protected against contamination by dust, moisture, etc.
First-aid kits and boxes should not contain anything besides material for first aid in emergencies.
First-aid kits and boxes should contain simple and clear instructions to be followed, be kept under the
charge of a responsible person qualified to render first aid and be regularly inspected and kept properly
stocked.
If a minimum number of workers as prescribed is employed in any shift, at least one suitably equipped
first-aid room or station under the charge of qualified first-aid personnel or a nurse should be provided
at a readily accessible place for treatment of minor injuries and as a rest place for seriously sick or
injured workers.
Occupational health services
All workers should be subject to health surveillance
Monitoring and control of the working environment and planning of safety and health precautions
should be performed as prescribed by national laws and regulations.
A multiplicity of health hazards is present in construction work and every effort should be made to
promote awareness of this fact and of the need to safeguard health.
Whenever new products, equipment and working methods are introduced, special attention should be
paid to informing and training workers with respect to the implications for safety and health.
Hazardous substances
An information system should be set up by the competent authority, using the results of international
scientific research, to provide information for clients, architects, contractors, employers' and workers'
representatives on the health risks associated with the hazardous substances used in the construction
industry.
National laws and regulations should require that the manufacturers, importers and suppliers of
hazardous products used in the construction industry should provide information with the products, in
the appropriate language, on associated health risks and on the precautions to be taken.
In the use of materials that contain hazardous substances and in the removal and disposal of waste, the
health of workers and of the public and the preservation of the environment should be safeguarded as
Hazardous substances should be clearly labelled giving their relevant characteristics and instructions on
their use. They should be handled under conditions prescribed by national laws and regulations or by
the competent authority.
Containers of hazardous substances should carry or be accompanied by instructions for the safe
handling of the contents and procedures to be followed in case of a spillage.

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9Health hazards, first aid and occupational health services
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The competent authority, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and
workers, should determine which hazardous substances should be prohibited from use in the
construction industry.
Preference should be given to the application of hazardous substances by means other than spraying,
such as by brush or roller, when feasible.
Where the use of toxic solvents, certain thinners, certain paints or volatile chemical substances cannot
be avoided, special precautions should be taken such as providing general and local exhaust ventilation,
and, if this is not practicable or is inadequate, respiratory protective equipment should be used. Such
measures should be applied more rigorously in situations when such chemicals are heated or used in
confined spaces. Paints and adhesives which present health hazards should be replaced with water-
dispersed products.
Skin contact with hazardous chemicals should be avoided, particularly when dealing with chemicals
which can penetrate through intact skin (e.g. certain wood preservatives) or can cause dermatitis (e.g.
wet cement). Personal hygiene and the type of clothing worn should be such as to enable the rapid
removal of any chemical from skin contact. Where allergic effects caused by certain materials could be
reduced by introducing other additives, necessary steps should be taken to make use of these additives
preferably at the manufacturing stage (e.g. adding iron sulphate to cement and cement products
containing hexavalent chromium).
When it is necessary to deal with proven carcinogenic substances, particularly in work involving
bituminous or tar asphalt, asbestos fibers, pitch, some heavy oils, and some aromatic solvents, strict
measures should be taken to avoid inhalation and skin contact. Particular care should be taken with
substances where there is reliable evidence of suspected carcinogenic effects.